MMO Updates

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• Norrathian Notebook: EverQuest Next Round Table roundup, fourth edition
• Meander through Wander's new GDC teaser trailer
• The Stream Team: A grand finale in Guild Wars 2
• Georgeson reveals monetization plans for EQN Landmark
• Tamriel Infinium: Building the best DPS class in The Elder Scrolls Online
• SOE All Access changes pushed back two weeks
• Guild Wars 2 reveals China strategy
• The Daily Grind: Do you play the MMO lockbox game?
• The Stream Team: Finally fighting Flappy in The Secret World
• The Summoner's Guidebook: Staying positive in League of Legends
• European Commission examining 'free' games with in-app purchasing
• ProSiebenSat.1 acquires Aeria Games Europe
• EverQuest Next Landmark shows the awesomeness of the grappling hook
• CCP Games reveals big plans for EVE Fanfest 2014
• The Stream Team: Crafting and gathering in FFXIV
• Field Journal: A strong CoHmmunity
• RIFT willing to ban players for toxic forum behavior
• Perfect Ten: The journey from announcement to launch
• A look at MMOs from the marketing perspective

Norrathian Notebook: EverQuest Next Round Table roundup, fourth edition Posted: 28 Feb 2014 08:30 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, New Titles, Free-to-Play, Community Q&A, EverQuest Next, Sandbox, Player-Generated Content, Norrathian Notebook Thanks to the early launch of EverQuest Next Landmark's alpha, players have been deep in the world of voxel-mining, crafting, and building to their hearts' content. Armed with with that hands-on knowledge, players are able to offer insights and suggestions about the development of that game. But that doesn't mean that those who aren't physically in the alpha (and have access to post in those forums) don't have valuable opinions about the direction of both Landmark and EverQuest Next, and the devs want to hear from everyone! That's where the EQN Round Tables come in. And the Norrathian Notebook Round Table roundups are here to help you keep track of them all. The three previous round ups corralled 23 questions, dev opinions, and video responses. This fourth edition (not to be dismissed like certain other fourth editions) contains eight more. Do you care about specialty servers, in-game weather, or crafting? Are you burning with a desire to tell the devs exactly how you feel about other players affecting your gameplay? Then there are polls and discussions that you'll want to take part in if you haven't already. One round table even focuses on improving the new player experience. And we've got them all rounded up right here for you. Continue reading Norrathian Notebook: EverQuest Next Round Table roundup, fourth edition Norrathian Notebook: EverQuest Next Round Table roundup, fourth edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Feb 2014 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Meander through Wander's new GDC teaser trailer Posted: 28 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST Filed under: Trailers, Video, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, PvE, Sandbox Where most games only offer some percentage of activity options besides combat (from basically nonexistent on up), Wander eschews combat completely in favor of exploration and collaborative gameplay. Can't imagine how a game like that actually looks? Well you're in luck! The devs have released a teaser trailer that takes a short stroll through a lush part of the land. Of course, it's not quite the same experience as when players will be able to don Oculus Rift goggles, but it still offers a glimpse of the world that's built using CryEngine's FreeSDK. See the clip for yourself below, and be on the lookout for an extended version expected to release at GDC 2014 in a few weeks. [Thanks to Rachel for the tip!] Continue reading Meander through Wander's new GDC teaser trailer Meander through Wander's new GDC teaser trailer originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Feb 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Wander teaser trailer

The Stream Team: A grand finale in Guild Wars 2 Posted: 28 Feb 2014 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, PvE, Guild Wars 2, Livestream, The Stream Team, MMORPG, Buy-to-Play Richie has been performing livestreams in Tyria for over two years now, so it's fitting that his final show for Massively would be in Guild Wars 2. He's chosen to do an alt-leveling stream and viewers are encouraged to guest onto the Blackgate server in the Fields of Ruin zone to join his exploits. It all happens live at 10:00 a.m. EST. Game: Guild Wars 2 Host: Richie "Bog Otter" Procopio Date: Friday, February 28th, 2014 Time: 10:00 a.m. EST Enjoy our Stream Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: A grand finale in Guild Wars 2 The Stream Team: A grand finale in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Feb 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Georgeson reveals monetization plans for EQN Landmark Posted: 28 Feb 2014 06:45 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Business Models, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, EverQuest Next, Sandbox With free-to-play titles, you have to wonder how exactly the game will stay afloat monetarily. EverQuest Next Landmark's Director of Development, Dave Georgeson, took the guesswork out of figuring out what will be available for sale by revealing the five phases of the upcoming sandbox's proposed business strategy. Players are already familiar with the first phase going on now, Founders Packs, and are expecting the advent of Player Studio, which is slated for early closed beta. The two phases in between, however, might be the most controversial; they involve selling character outfits, resources, and shortcut methods for features. Anticipating player concern, Georgeson explained that the current resource progression in alpha is not planned for the game proper; items will soon only need handfuls of resources to make tools. For feature shortcuts, he gives the example of paying upkeep, renting market stalls, or gaining the effects of a potion without physically crafting the potion first. The final phase at the end of closed beta will involve a large chunk of "bigger-ticket items like cosmetic pets, sound/music packs for your claims, name/gender changes, extra claim flags, and more." As with all announcements, the devs want to hear your feedback so the plan can be adapted accordingly. (Note: Any and all purchased items are considered inventory and will never be wiped in alpha or beta.) Georgeson reveals monetization plans for EQN Landmark originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Feb 2014 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: EQN Landmark business plan

Tamriel Infinium: Building the best DPS class in The Elder Scrolls Online Posted: 28 Feb 2014 06:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, New Titles, PvE, Opinion, Guides, The Elder Scrolls Online, MMORPG, Tamriel Infinium ​ Commenters and gamers around the internet have wondered aloud whether it's really true that any class can play any role in the Elder Scrolls Online. Developers have said that with a simple weapon swap, we can instantly change the group dynamic. Being a hard-nosed MMOer, I admit I thought that was a stretch. We've seen the pseudo-roleswaps in Guild Wars 2, but based on the videos that I've seen of both GW2 and ESO, the latter defines the roles even more stringently. If you're a tank in ESO, you will take the brunt of the damage and you will keep aggro off other players. As a healer, you'll find your job will be to keep others' health points from reaching zero. And DPS will be required to drop enemy health points to zero as fast as possible. That's the reality. So is it actually possible for any class to play any role, as the developers claim? I might enjoy talking about builds and what works for different playstyles, but math is far from fun for me. Fortunately, I have friends for whom theorycrafting is their calling. I wrestled down Calls1gn, a top-tier raider formerly of Memories of Xendor. I sat him in front of a skill calculator for ESO and made him create some amazing, yet viable, builds in some obscure classes to prove once and for all whether the class system is as flexible as ZeniMax claims. Continue reading Tamriel Infinium: Building the best DPS class in The Elder Scrolls Online Tamriel Infinium: Building the best DPS class in The Elder Scrolls Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Feb 2014 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

SOE All Access changes pushed back two weeks Posted: 28 Feb 2014 06:00 AM PST Filed under: EverQuest, EverQuest II, PlanetSide, Business Models, Free-to-Play, DC Universe Online, EverQuest Next, Miscellaneous, PlanetSide 2, Subscription The big changes to SOE's All Access plan will be held back two weeks while the studio finishes work on it, moving it from the beginning to the middle of April. "Looking like new membership plans will go live around 4/16 instead of 4/2," SOE President John Smedley wrote on Twitter yesterday. "Lots of stuff to finish." The new All Access pass will give players premium access to all of SOE's MMOs, a discount in the store, and a monthly stipend of Station Cash for a flat fee of $14.99 a month. [Thanks to BabaGraPL for the tip!] SOE All Access changes pushed back two weeks originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Feb 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: John Smedley Twitter

Guild Wars 2 reveals China strategy Posted: 28 Feb 2014 05:30 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Business Models, Guild Wars 2, Buy-to-Play As Guild Wars 2 prepares to make inroads to its first Asian country, ArenaNet announced some of its plans for how it will handle the game in China. The Chinese version of Guild Wars 2 will retain the buy-to-play model that the game currently employs in the West, which is a departure from the typical business models in the region. So what about the rapid pace of its content releases and the progression of the living story? The Eastern and Western versions of the game will not exist independently in this regard, but will be synced up so that both get the same updates. There will be a few changes to the tutorial for Chinese players, however. Guild Wars 2 will be published in the region by KongZhong and is planning to go into closed beta testing on March 11th. [Source: ArenaNet press release] Guild Wars 2 reveals China strategy originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Feb 2014 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Do you play the MMO lockbox game? Posted: 28 Feb 2014 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Business Models, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous, Buy-to-Play The infamous marketing phenomenon known as the lockbox has been the subject of much disdain since F2P took over the MMO market because lockboxes are perceived by players to be an annoying lottery mechanic, but they don't seem to be going away. Studios like Cryptic have gone on record as saying they're incredibly profitable, and that means lots of players do buy them (or the keys to open them, as the case may be). Or do they? The top-supplied item on the Guild Wars 2 auction house is the locked Black Lion Chest. As of this screencap last week, almost 7,000,000 lockboxes are sitting on the market unbought, waiting for someone with a purchased or looted key to come along and crack them open. Add to that number the 50 or so sitting idle in my bank! That's a lot of dropped lockboxes that failed to entice someone to whip out his wallet and pay for a key. Are you among the resistant players, or do you play the MMO lockbox game? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind! The Daily Grind: Do you play the MMO lockbox game? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Feb 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Stream Team: Finally fighting Flappy in The Secret World Posted: 27 Feb 2014 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Horror, Real-Life, Video, Events (In-Game), The Secret World, Livestream, Dungeons, The Stream Team, Buy-to-Play For months the nefarious flying nemesis of The Whispering Tide has been flinging Filth at everyone during The Secret World. Now that players finally have a chance exact some sweet revenge, Massively's MJ is front and center on that firing line! She's taking advantage of every opportunity to fight the four-winged Flappy (and consequently soak up the sliver and fragment rewards) and is inviting you along on TSW's first-ever instanced 40-man raid. Join us live at 8:00 p.m. for your chance to flip Flappy the bird. Game: The Secret World Host: MJ Guthrie Date: Thursday, February 27th, 2014 Time: 8:00 p.m. EST Enjoy our Stream Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Finally fighting Flappy in The Secret World The Stream Team: Finally fighting Flappy in The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Summoner's Guidebook: Staying positive in League of Legends Posted: 27 Feb 2014 03:00 PM PST Filed under: PvP, Opinion, Free-to-Play, MOBA, League of Legends, The Summoner's Guidebook This is the last issue of the Summoner's Guidebook for the time being. I hate to leave, but unfortunately things are out of everyone's hands. So before I go, I will give you my final lesson: the way to be the best League of Legends players you can be. I played my first game of Hexakill last week, and it was terrible. I was jungle Shyvana, and we had a duo top plus otherwise standard lanes. All of my lanes lost. Our Ryze went 0 and 6 against the enemy Syndra. The enemy Riven had something like 11 kills in the midgame with over 26 by the end. I was the only one not behind; our bottom lane was losing, but not terribly. We won that game. Some of that victory comes from the enemy screwing up. I will fully admit that if the enemy had played properly in the midgame, we would have lost. However, even with the enemy's mistakes, we were tens of thousands of gold and several towers behind. How is a comeback like that even possible? Here's how: Stay positive and always look for the silver lining. Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Staying positive in League of Legends The Summoner's Guidebook: Staying positive in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Feb 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

European Commission examining 'free' games with in-app purchasing Posted: 27 Feb 2014 02:30 PM PST Filed under: Business Models, Economy, MMO Industry, News Items The European Union's executive body is meeting with game developers in an effort to improve consumer protections, according to GamesIndustry.biz. The European Commission feels that "consumers and in particular children need better protection against unexpected costs from in-app purchases." The Consumer Protection Corporation and EC member states have condemned various forms of misleading advertising in games, along with direct purchasing appeals like "buy now!" or "upgrade now!" "The use of the word 'free' (or similar unequivocal terms) as such, and without any appropriate qualifications, should only be allowed for games which are indeed free in their entirety, or in other words which contain no possibility of making in-app purchases, not even on an optional basis," the European Commission says. European Commission examining 'free' games with in-app purchasing originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Feb 2014 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: GamesIndustry.biz

ProSiebenSat.1 acquires Aeria Games Europe Posted: 27 Feb 2014 02:00 PM PST Filed under: MMO Industry, News Items, Miscellaneous The European gaming publisher ProSiebenSat.1 just got bigger. Pending approval by the responsible cartel authorities, PSS1 has acquired online and mobile games publisher Aeria Games Europe. The deal doubles the publisher's portfolio (upping it from 19 to 39 games) and almost triples its games community (rising from 27 to 77 million gamers). ProSiebenSat.1 will combine the games operations in Berlin and take on the name SevenGames. Dr. Christian Wegner, a member of PSS1's Executive Board, explained, "The acquisition of Aeria Games Europe allows us full access to new markets and target groups, making us one of the top three publishers in Europe in one fell swoop, and takes us a big step forward in mobile gaming, the sector's largest growth driver. The transaction is fully in line with our strategy of strengthening our portfolio of digital assets by making bolt-on acquisitions." [Source: ProSiebenSat.1 press release] ProSiebenSat.1 acquires Aeria Games Europe originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Feb 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

EverQuest Next Landmark shows the awesomeness of the grappling hook Posted: 27 Feb 2014 01:30 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, Free-to-Play, EverQuest Next, Sandbox Do you remember Bionic Commando from way back when (or its remake)? It was a decent run-and-gun platformer that was most notable for the main character's grappling hook arm. If swinging through the air instead of running like a chump appeals to you, then you'll definitely want to check out EverQuest Next Landmark's grappling hook. A new video from SOE shows this unusual (at least for MMOs but not for Batman) method of rapid transporation. The grappling hook can launch out to snag surfaces a good distance away (or straight up) and pull the user to them. It's part of the EverQuest Next focus on increased movement options, and it is something you have to see in action. Check out the video after the break and let us know: Should all MMOs put in grappling hooks? I think we know the answer to that. Continue reading EverQuest Next Landmark shows the awesomeness of the grappling hook EverQuest Next Landmark shows the awesomeness of the grappling hook originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Feb 2014 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

CCP Games reveals big plans for EVE Fanfest 2014 Posted: 27 Feb 2014 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Culture, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, News Items, Hands-On, Events (Massively's Coverage), World of Darkness, DUST 514, Sandbox, Anniversaries, Subscription The universe of EVE Online may be best known as a crazy virtual galaxy full of back-stabbing pirates and political betrayal, but for a few days each year it becomes something altogether more tangible. At the annual EVE Fanfest, hundreds of the game's most devoted fans make the long pilgrimage to the game's birthplace in Reykjavik, Iceland. In addition to the official talks and reveals on the game's future from developer CCP Games, Fanfest plays host to charity raffles, roundtable discussions with developers, and informal get-togethers for players to share their stories. Last year's 10th anniversary Fanfest was the biggest one yet, with information included on World of Darkness and DUST 514 and the official reveal of Oculus Rift-based dogfighter EVE Valkyrie. This year's attendees can look forward to the first ever live demo of EVE's yet-to-be-revealed summer expansion, hands-on experience with the next major evolution of DUST 514, and playtests of a brand-new build of the virtual reality dogfighter EVE Valkyrie. This year's Fanfest will also see a special monument dedicated to EVE Online players revealed to the world; The "Worlds Within a World" monument will be installed in Reykjavik Harbor and will be etched with the names of all active EVE subscribers on March 1st. It's also hoped that crowdfunded EVE Online documentary A Tale of Internet Spaceships will be premiered during the Fanfest weekend, and we'll reportedly hear the latest on CCP's new EVE comic book and live action TV series. The event takes place from May 1st to May 3rd, and I'll be attending this year's event on behalf of Massively to bring you in-depth first-hand coverage of all the big reveals. Stay tuned! CCP Games reveals big plans for EVE Fanfest 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Feb 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: CCP Games press release

The Stream Team: Crafting and gathering in FFXIV Posted: 27 Feb 2014 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Economy, Game Mechanics, Final Fantasy XIV, Livestream, Crafting, The Stream Team After a busy day of adventuring, Final Fantasy XIV offers players a variety of activities to unwind with, including pretty robust crafting and gathering systems. You just might need to... watch your back. Why? Oh, no reason. Join Massively's Jasmine live today at 3:00 p.m. as she crafts and gathers her way through Eorzea! Game: Final Fantasy XIV Host: Jasmine Hruschak Date: Thursday, February 27st, 2014 Time: 3:00 p.m. EST Enjoy our Stream Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Crafting and gathering in FFXIV The Stream Team: Crafting and gathering in FFXIV originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Feb 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Field Journal: A strong CoHmmunity Posted: 27 Feb 2014 11:00 AM PST Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, Culture, MMO Industry, Opinion, Sunsets, MMORPG, Field Journal Last week a package arrived for me, sent by the incomparable Beau Hindman. He had been clearing out some of his old gaming paraphernalia, and when he happened on his old City of Heroes disks, something spurred him to offer them freely to anyone in the team who wanted them. I gratefully accepted. Ever since they arrived, they've dominated my thoughts, despite some highly dramatic events in the time since, weighty and uplifting alike. It's a game that just keeps inspiring acts of generosity and kindness. I started playing CoH on the very day it went free-to-play, but it struck a chord with me nearly instantly. I soon found it had an amazing community on top of everything the developers were responsible for, and that's when I fell in love. It went from "that old game probably no one plays anymore" to "the best MMO I have ever played" to "the cancellation that broke my heart" in all too short a time. Fortunately, the example set by the incredible community and its determination to carry the torch helped to mend my coronary fractures. As much as there is to learn from all aspects of MMOs, the single most important element will always be community. I can think of no finer example to look to than CoH. Continue reading Field Journal: A strong CoHmmunity Field Journal: A strong CoHmmunity originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Feb 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

RIFT willing to ban players for toxic forum behavior Posted: 27 Feb 2014 10:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Events (In-Game), News Items, Free-to-Play, RIFT, Subscription Official game forums have a reputation for being hopelessly toxic. It makes a certain amount of sense, too; being an utter jerk in the forums usually means that at worst you'll be banned from those forums. So RIFT is taking things up to the next level. If you choose to be persistently awful in the forums, you can eventually have your ability to play the game suspended. Readers with a long memory will note that Sony Online Entertainment has discussed similar possibilities in the past, hoping to encourage a more positive and engaging atmosphere all around. The Carnival of the Ascended is rolling back into the game and helping create a more positive atmosphere as well, giving players a plethora of minigames to enjoy. RIFT Junkies has a full guide to the event available now, walking players through the steps necessary to unlock mounts, pets, and fun cosmetic pieces. So enjoy the addition... assuming you haven't run afoul of the more aggressive behavior policies. [Thanks to Cederhill for the tip!] RIFT willing to ban players for toxic forum behavior originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Feb 2014 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Please Be Aware: New Forum Toxicity Policies, Carnival of the Ascended guide

Perfect Ten: The journey from announcement to launch Posted: 27 Feb 2014 10:00 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Launches, Opinion, Humor, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous One of the aspects that I love about MMOs is just how dang fun the build-up to launch can be. I know this period can make some people cranky (Jef) because they'd rather have Santa randomly kick in their door, toss in a bunch of unwrapped video games and Minecraft foam accessories, and refuse to stay for milk and cookies. Not me; I love the build-up, the anticipation, and the goofy fun of partaking in all of this with a like-minded community. There's something awesome about each stage of the journey from announcement to launch, even if it brings out the crazy in many of us. Now that I think about it, if MMOs didn't exist, where would the drama llamas go to bleat out their discontent? Would trolls go extinct under their mossy bridges? That sounds just awful. I don't care if liking all of this stuff makes me a big lame-o. I eat lame-os for breakfast because they're high in fiber and there's a free beta key in every box. So get ready to face the full might of my unadulterated joy in three... two... one... Continue reading Perfect Ten: The journey from announcement to launch Perfect Ten: The journey from announcement to launch originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Feb 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

A look at MMOs from the marketing perspective Posted: 27 Feb 2014 09:30 AM PST Filed under: Business Models, MMO Industry, News Items, Miscellaneous Gamers don't tend to think about MMOs from a marketing perspective; that's not what we're most interested in. So it's informative to take a look at a recent piece from [a]list daily about the state of MMORPGs in terms of profits, business models, and future developments. The piece looks at the history of the genre as well as World of Warcraft's apex, considering the likely future path as well as the emerging markets not yet tapped. Unlike many such analyses, this piece sees a bright potential future for The Elder Scrolls Online, explaining that even a small percentage of Skyrim customers buying the game will make back the game's production budget. It also examines the emerging tablet and mobile market, arguing that this is the most obvious sector for substantial growth over the next few years. For a more detailed look, take a read through the full article. A look at MMOs from the marketing perspective originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Feb 2014 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: [a]list daily

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